Jefferson Lab Achieves Virginia Values Veterans Certification

The Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program is an official Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Veterans Services Program. (c) 2014

V3 Program achievement affirms the lab’s commitment to actively recruit military veterans of all stripes to join its workforce

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The management and operations contractor of the Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility has achieved the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certification, awarded by the Commonwealth of Virginia to private employers committed to recruiting, hiring, training and retaining veterans. With this certification, Jefferson Science Associates, LLC, has affirmed its commitment to the recruitment of veterans.

“Jefferson Lab has historically supported and participated in outreach events highlighting veterans,” said Roxanne Campbell, JSA human resources consultant. “With this certification, veterans and military members transitioning to civilian life will recognize JSA as an employer that values the skills, experience and expertise veterans can bring to the organization.”

The V3 certification is a statewide initiative of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) designed to encourage private employers to incorporate dedicated hiring, training and retention processes for military veterans into their ongoing hiring efforts.

“Hiring veterans is a smart business decision. The myriad of experiences, skill sets and knowledge veterans bring with them to the workforce serves as an attractive offering to potential employers, including JSA,” said Rhonda Barbosa, the Jefferson Lab human resources director.

Launched in 2012, the V3 certification has already contributed to the hiring of more than 33,000 veterans throughout the Commonwealth.

Campbell said in order to achieve the V3 certification, lab representatives needed to complete the required V3 Core Curriculum Training in best practices. “Once training requirements were met, a letter was sent to Governor Northam requesting V3 membership,” she added. JSA officially received its certification in March 2019.

Campbell notes that, along with the V3 certification, the location of the lab in Newport News may play a role in attracting veteran employees.

“The strong military presence in Hampton Roads provides area employers with a talent pool of veterans transitioning from military to civilian workforce, particularly those who have decided to call Hampton Roads home upon completion of their military service,” she said.

According to data published by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, approximately 780,000 veterans live and work in the Commonwealth. Of the roughly 700 employees at the lab, veterans make up about six percent of the employee population.

“Veterans occupy a range of roles across the lab, including technicians, engineers, staff administrators and members of management, including senior leadership,” Campbell added.

Why focus on veteran recruitment? Campbell pointed to a message from the Commissioner of Veterans Services in the V3 training manual: “The military invests considerable resources in training service members in a variety of areas, including advanced technology and leadership skills. Many veterans have worked in very diverse teams often in cultures different from their own.”

Jefferson Science Associates, LLC, a joint venture of the Southeastern Universities Research Association, Inc. and PAE, manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, or Jefferson Lab, for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.